- 
370  Helvetic Society. 
eeting. ‘There is not much perhaps in this review, which 
lies beyond the field of physical science; but | shall venture 
upon a circumference more extensive, and more analogous 
perhaps to the title of our society, and to its constitution, 
which embraces, in some sort. the whole of nature, and di- 
rects by turns the attention and the researches of our numer- 
ous coadjutors* towards every object of interest which it 
can offer, and whose number is without limitation. 
ot ‘only are the sciences of nature and observation so . 
connected with, each other as to form an uninterrupted — 
chain ; they have become at the present time, inser 
allied to the exact. sciences, by the medium of the atomic 
theory, which, pursuing in thoughts the elements of bodies 
far beyond the feeble powers of our senses, has discovered, 
in the varied combinations of those indivisible elementary 
molecules. simple relations both of weight and volume ; a 
discovery which has opened the way to a rigorous arithmet- 
ical calculation in cases wherein it was before necess2ry to 
remain satisfied with vague and uncertain estimates. Not 
only are these calculations, for the most part, the result of 
actual chemical analyses—they often prepare the way for 
them and decide upon their conclusions a priert.; and the 
experienc e of the manipulating chemist, does but confirm 
what the theory had foretold by the learned and judicious 
te of the science of meEmer. We are indebted to 
simultaneous existence, and pee operation form in our 
own time, an epoch in the annal of scien 
Passing from these events, are in some sort Euro- 
pean, to those on account of which our own country has a 
right to our felicitation, I must refer for details to the special 
reports of the cantonal societies of Zurich, Berne, Geneva, 
St. Gall, Lausanne, Arau, Schaffhausen, and of our younger 
sister of Soleure, who has this year entered upon the career 
under the happiest auspices. It is, | repeat, to an exposé of . 
* The society has now 415 members, and 114 foreien associates. | 
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